The “group of champions” may be fiendishly tough, but, to borrow José
Mourinho’s tart phrase, it is still “not normal” where Manchester City find
themselves this morning.

A team with aspirations to be the very best in the world should not sit rock
bottom; should not have three points from five matches; should not defend as
shambolically as City have done — never worse than that costly first
half-hour last night.

There is no disgrace in tumbling out when the opposition is of high pedigree —
even if Mourinho, sitting in Mancini’s own chair, did lay it on thick on the
eve